SAR Radio Communications

Introduction to GSAR Communications

J. Marshall 2008

TopicsTopics

1. Radio 2. Equipment3. The “Net”4. 24 hr Clock/Phonetic Alphabet5. Voice Procedure6. Radio Logs7. Emergency Signals8. Mock Deployment

Radio Waves p. 9-3/4Radio Waves p. 9-3/4

LF KHz

HF MHz

VHF MHz

UHF GHz

VLF KHz

MF KHz

PEP

We use PEP 1 & 2We use PEP 1 & 2

Simplex vs. Duplex?

TX and RX on same freq =SIMPLEX

TX on one freq and RX on a second freq =DUPLEX

Simplex vs. Duplex?

TX and RX on same freq =SIMPLEX

TX on one freq and RX on a second freq =DUPLEX

LF Waves vs. VHF Waves

Radio waves travel in a straight line.

Waves can be bounced

Power

• Handheld 2-5 watts

(Mobile/base radios much higher)

• Meteorological conditions, terrain, power (watts) and antenna rig of TX + the sensitivity/antenna of RX will determine the range possible

Repeaters p. 9-6/7Repeaters p. 9-6/7

Note: GSAR teams can act as human repeaters by relaying messages between two stations that cannot communicate.

2. Equipment2. Equipment

TYPES BASE - fixed locations (buildings) Mobile - vehicles/watercraft/aircraft Portable - hand-held GSAR teams

Send a signal = transmitterReceive a signal = receiver

Both = transceiver

Radio Parts p. 9-4/5Radio Parts p. 9-4/5

• On/off (accidental discharging)

• Squelch (saving power, auto feature on some radios)

• Channel/Frequency Selector (memory, confusion during mutual aid ops = say PEP 1 vs Channel 1, legally non-hams can’t change frequencies outside of assigned PEP frequencies)

• PTT (key-pause-talk)

• Antenna (helical vs. telescoping + pointing, care)

• Battery (memory, spares, cold-weather ops)

3. The “Net”3. The “Net”

Sunshine 06 Sunshine 12 Sunshine 14

Sunshine Command

Sunshine Who?

Remember:

1. Go through Command

2. Be concise

3. Less is more - avoid useless calls

Typical Operational “Net” PenakPenak TalonTalon

Sunshine CommandSunshine Command

Sunshine 06Sunshine 06 Sunshine 08Sunshine 08 Sunshine 12Sunshine 12 Sunshine 14Sunshine 14

Cellular Coms

Cellular Coms

JRCCJRCC

4a. 24 hr Clock4a. 24 hr Clock

Say the four digits,

then say hours: ex. “0430 hours”

Say 1-9-0-0-hours, not “nineteen hundred hours”

Say “decimal” not “point”

Always “zero”, never “oh”

4b. Phonetic Alphabet4b. Phonetic Alphabet

• Use only if necessary

• Odd ones: Oss-cah, Vic-tah

• Say “I spell…”

• Say “decimal”

• Practice

5. Voice Procedure p. 9-9/115. Voice Procedure p. 9-9/11

V.P. is a concise and formalized version of everyday communication. For example:

Hi guys, I’m Bob; how do you do?

Hello R.T., it’s Sue; what’s up, eh?

Command this is Sunshine 08, send sitrep, over.

V.P. is a concise and formalized version of everyday communication. For example:

Hi guys, I’m Bob; how do you do?

Hello R.T., it’s Sue; what’s up, eh?

Command this is Sunshine 08, send sitrep, over.

Fatalities• Frequencies can be monitored and

family members can overhear SAR radios – take care…

Condition DELTA

Example: affirmative/negative Example: affirmative/negative Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out

Sunshine 09 this is Sunshine Command

Have you reached the parking lot at the trail head?

over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 09 Affirmative, over.


Roger, out.

Example: confirm Example: confirm Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out


Confirm the subject’s mother told you he had a blue tarp with him,

over.

Sunshine Command


Sunshine 06 this is Sunshine Roger, out.

Example: correction Example: correction Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out


Move now to GR 123758, correction move to GR 123578,

over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 20 Roger, moving to GR 123578, over.


Roger, out.

Example: go ahead (send) Example: go ahead (send) Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 02 Message, over.


Go ahead, over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 02 Roger, ……….., more to follow, over.


Roger, go ahead, over…

Example: how do you read? (or) radio check

Example: how do you read? (or) radio check

Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out


How do you read? over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 11 I read you loud and clear,

(loud and broken)

(weak and unreadable)

over.


Roger, out.

Example: say again Example: say again Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out


Ensure you have the following: GPS, spare radio battery, first aid kit, saline and headlamp,

over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 11 Roger, say again, all after, first aid kit,

over.


Roger, I say again after first aid kit: saline and headlamp,

over…

Don’t ever say “repeat” or you’ll never sound cool like an air traffic controller.

Example: standby (wait) Example: standby (wait) Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out


Message to follow, (get paper to copy?)

over.

Sunshine

Command

this is Sunshine 09 Standby,

(Wait,)

over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 09 Go ahead,

(Send message now,)

over…

N.B.: If you want a station to wait more than 10 seconds, say “Standby, out.” Call them back when you are ready - this keeps the net open.

Example: verify Example: verify Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 02 Will you verify that the subject’s jacket was found at the parking lot by Sunshine 05,

over.


Standby, out to you;


Confirm that it was you who found the subject’s jacket in the parking lot,

over.

Sunshine Command


Sunshine 05 this is S. Command Roger, out to you;

Sunshine 02 this is S. Command I verify, the subject’s jacket… over…

Example: radio check - multiple stations Example: radio check - multiple stations Station Called This is This is Message Over/Out

All Sunshine call signs

this is Sunshine Command

Radio check, over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 01

Sunshine 02

Sunshine 03

Roger,

Roger,

Roger,

over.

over.

over,

Sunshine 05

Sunshine 06

Roger,

Roger,

over.

over.

All Sunshine stations, except Sunshine 04

this is Sunshine Command

Roger, out to you;


Radio check, over.

Sunshine Command

this is Sunshine 04 You are weak but readable, over…

- Pause of 5 seconds -

TIME

STATION I.D. STN. CALLED THIS IS SUBJECT

6. Radio Logs6. Radio Logs

20:15 Command SC 06 Found fresh bike tire tracks on trail to lake; will follow tracks.

20:17 Command SC 12 Found white water bottle with “On the Edge” logo 200m north of

parking lot at lake. Request info on subj’s gear.20:18 SC 12 Command Police confirm Subj may have same type of water bottle.

(Police IC left 20:20 hrs - will rtn in approx 20 mins)

20:26 Command SC 06 Found red Brody mnt bike like Subj’s with broken front forks

at bottom of a trail ladder. Checking for signs of Subj.

20:27 SC 12 Command SM ordered SC 12 to move to SC 06’s loc to help search area

where bike found. Loc = GR 903256.

20:35 Command SC 06 Sc 12 has arrived SC 06’s loc and is assisting in area search.

20:39 Command SC 12 Subj located / unconscious; SC 06 starting F.A.; vitals and

loc to follow but request heavy F.A. kit with oxygen be brought.

20:40 SC 14 Command Report to Command to move heavy F.A. and oxygen to SC 06.

(SC 14 dispatched to SC 06 at GR 905257 at 20:45 hrs)

7. Emergency Signals

A) The distress signal - life or limb

• MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, this isSunshine 01, Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01, We are at Victor’s LandingMy team has been hit by an avalanche, over.

• Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01, Sunshine 01,This is Sunshine Command, Sunshine

Command, Sunshine Command,Received MAYDAY, over.

ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until agency in command (ex. Coast Guard) clears the emergency.

7. Emergency Signals cont.7. Emergency Signals cont.B) The urgency signal – safety of ship, vehicle, plane, person

• PANPAN, PANPAN, PANPAN, this isSunshine 02, We are at the Chapman Creek BridgeOne member of our team has fallen and is injured, over.

• Sunshine 02,This is Sunshine Command,Received PANPAN; I am standing by to receive details, over.

ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until emergency is over.ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until emergency is over.

7. Emergency Signals cont.7. Emergency Signals cont.

C) The safety signal - safety of navigation or weather

• SECURITY, SECURITY, SECURITY, this is Penak, All GSAR teams should be advised that extreme westerly winds

and snow are forecasted in the search area for the next twelve hours, over.

• Penak,This is Sunshine Command,Received SECURITY, and I will confirm that all GSAR teams

understand, over.

D) the signal for accidents during mock operations and training scenarios:

NoDuff, NoDuff, NoDuffThis is Sunshine 08We are at the rappel siteA member has been hit by a falling rock, over.

Sunshine 08 this is Sunshine CommandReceived No Duff,send details, over

7. Emergency Signals cont.7. Emergency Signals cont.

ALL STATIONS CEASE ALL TRAFFIC until emergency is over.

Confidentiality of Comms

• Remember that you must not discuss operational correspondence outside of your GSAR unit

8. Questionsand Practice8. Questionsand Practice

Education

SAR Radio Communications